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Onyx, the "shield," it was something Dr. Halsey might be able to use for her own purposes.
She rapid-fire typed a message to Lord Hood at FLEETCOM, requesting a large military force to be sent, explaining that the Forerunner technology here might turn the tide of the war. She then encoded Cortana's logs and the other data… in case Admiral Whitcomb and the other SPARTANTIs never made it back to Earth.
The hologram pad warmed and Endless Summer reappeared.
"COM probe launcher prepared and Slipspace generator capacitors charged," he said. "You have the message. Doctor?"
She sent him the files.
"Concise and devoid of elegance," Endless Summer remarked. "What I have come to expect from human communication."
"Upload and send it," Dr. Flalsey told him.
"Accelerator primed, Slipstream transition matrix formed." His image dimmed. "COM probe away."
Endless Summer then frowned, and a ripple of static passed though his image.
"There's an anomaly," he said. "I'm keeping the Slipspace matrix open and running probe diagnostic."
"Explain," Dr. Halsey demanded.
"I am receiving a UNSC E-Band signal, bounced from the probe back to us, a transmission originating inside Slipstream space." He furrowed his brows. "This should not be possible. The energy required would be more than the output of all UNSC assets combined."
"It's not possible with our technology," Dr. Halsey said. "Download that message—put it on speaker while the probe is still in range."
A woman's voice filled the bunker. It was static-filled and choppy.
And unmistakably Cortana's.
"This is an automated message from UNSC MIL AI SERIAL NUMBER: CTN 0452-9.
"All UNSC personnel heed and stand to.
"I am declaring general emergency codes Bandersnatch and Hydra."
"Bandersnatch" was the code for radiological- or energy-based disaster. Dr. Halsey had heard this used before from planetary bombardment by Covenant plasma and during the UNSC nuking of the Far Isle Colony to put down the rebellion of 2492.
"Hydra," however, she had never heard used before. It was reserved for imminent threat from biological weapons of mass destruction.
"In Amber Clad has successfully followed the Covenant ship from New Mombassa to its destination, another Halo construct (stellar coordinates embedded).
"We discovered there are more Halos distributed throughout the galaxy.
"Covenant base ship and fleet are here en masse guarding Delta Halo.
"Parasitic infestation known as the Flood has contaminated this construct.
"Flood attempting to escape. Strategies suggest a hitherto unknown coordinating intelligence.
"Highest possible threat assessment from biological contamination and radiological annihilation from Halo detonation.
"Suggest FLEETCOM neutralize the Covenant-controlled Forerunner command vessel. Be advised SPARTAN-117 onboard.
"Additional: Suggest FLEETCOM Nova-bomb the Delta Halo system to counter the imminent biological threat.
"Message ends."
Cortana had to be using the Forerunner technology to send this message through Slipstream space. But would any UNSC ship hear it? They weren't designed to detect signals in the notoriously unpredictable transdimension.